Mining machine



Nov. 26, 1929. E. OTOOLE MINING MACHINE Filed,Sept. 16, 1924- 9Sheets-Sheet fizveizz'or: Err 4E0 07004:;

' mmssesx E OTOOLE MINING MACHINE Nov. 26, 1929.

Filed Sept. 16, 1924 9 Sheets-Sheet 2 izventaz':

Witnesses E. OTOOLE MINING MACHINE Filed Sept. 16, 1924 Nov. 26, 1929.

9 Sheets-Sheet 3 172087380 .50/4/460 Oroozs,

Witnesses Nov.'26, 1929. EOTOOLE" ,73

MINING MACHINE Filed Sept. 16, 1924 9 Sheets-Sheet 4 [Fitness-es:jmeiztor:

fan 4E0 07004 E,

Nov. 26, 1929. E. foTooLE MINING MACHINE Filed Sept 16, 1924 9Sheets-Sheet 5 [raven for: Aim 42.0 070045,

m\\ k QMV Q/ w M k t: vvm mm \m j mhw hm \m {M W A M \m M nu M N Us MyWitnesses Nov. 26, 1929. E. OTOOLE MINING MACHINE Filed Sept. 16, 1924 9Sheets-Sheet 6 m WM 3557298595: flan/W Nov. 26, 1929. E; OTOOLE MININGMACHINE Filed Sept. 16, 1924 9 Sheets-Sheet 7 mentor: [OH/4E0 070045;

Witnesses:

Nov. 26, 1929. E. OTOOLE MINING MACHINE Filed Sept. 16, 1924 9Sheets-Sheet 8 R Inventor )Vz'inesses Err/450 070015,

Nov. 26,1929.

9 Sheets-Sheet 9 Ina enter Patented Nov. 26, 1929 nnwimno'roonri, orGARY, wEs'r'vIRerNr-A MIN-ENG MACHINE Aliplic'atiofllfildi September1-6, 1924. Serial N:-738,0342.

This" invention relates to mining machines and more particularly te a!combined roof support and advancing rig for use with the long-Walk type:of mining; machines adapted to bemove'd bodily! forwardiinto thematerial beingsmined;

The object of the present invention is:' to provide a combine'dreoisupport an d advancing rig adaptedito support the roofand advance withthe machine':

Another object is to; provide a device of this class having atract0r=torm of propelling mech'anismat'both the upper andlow-er endsadapted toengage both the root and-floor of the mine,

A further object is to. provide a device of the class describedhamirrgtlie ncve'l construction, combi'n at'i'o'n} and arrangement ofparts hereinafter described and i'l'lust-rat'ed' in. the

accompanying drawings; 1

In the drawings I p Figures 1 and 1 combine toiillustrate a plan view ofa mining machine. with wh ch the combinedroofsupporting;andadvancuigrigs of thisinvent'ien arepriinarily adapted for use.

Figures Qand Q comb ineito" sh'cwf. rear elevation ofi tlie' rnacliin'eof Fi'gzures" 1: and 1?. Figure 3 is anlendvisW ofthe buttend of themachine of Figures 1 and 1 showing the roof support-ingand advancingrigs in position; i I I t Figure 4 isanenlarged rcarelev aticn oi the deliveryend of 'theinini'ng machine} Figure 5" isan enlarged endelevation of the delivery end of the mining machine;

Figure 6' is 'a transversese'ctional elevation through the mining"; inachine on th'e line Figure 7 is a transverse-sectionalelevation throughone of the drive connections of the mining machine which -drive the roofsup porting andvradvancing rigs;

Figure: 8is an enlarged side elevation. of one oi thecombinedrooiisupporting andadvancing rigs. I Figure-9 is atop-planthereof.

Figure 10 isa: sectionalelevation 0nthe line -XXof Figure'9.

Figure 11 is a similar elevation of the l line "XI-XI of Figure" 9.

7 Referring more particularly to the drawings; the letter mainframe ofth A designates the elongated eminingmachineas a- Whole,

bottom' f ace otthebottomrplate2j and serve as both skids andstiijl'fening -membersg i r A- cutterxchain-idler sprocket 1'1isjournal'ed to" rotate; about substantially ventical axis in a bearinglongitudinally-10f thejrame A-byfmfeans of block 12 which is adjustablethe screw threads-ch adj ustingbar .l-3-niountied i in the rigid crossbar ,f 14:secured betweenthe cutter chainguides-Band 6;

As cutter chain head 'orpovversproclietlb is mounted on a substantiallyvertical shaft 16 ournaled at'the head-end of theunachine.

A cu'tter' chain L7 of standard design is trained over the sprockets? 11 and-1 5 and h passes throughthe guides 5 6a A conveyer idler. sprocket1-9 15" 3 ourn aled to rotate about a substantially verticals axis in anadjustable-bearing. block 2Q slidabliv mountedbetW'een-ashort den'gth ofchannel 21 and the channel The bearing block 20- is adapted? to bjeadjustedby means ofscrew threaded: adgusting r0dr22 threaded into aThehead or loading end ofg -the-ftame-A' is inclined upward re'ctilyinto cars." sprocket 25 is vertical shaft 2 frameAs Q A conveyer' ch 1vsufliciently to permitthe conveyejr 1to disehargethemined material di-As conveyer head or; power mounted on a substantially 6 atthehead-endotithe ain} is around the sprockets 19 and 25 and carriesconveyer flights 28. The flights 28 are substantially triangular shapedin plan and comprise a vertically disposed material engaging face orwall 28 and a pair of rearwardly extending flanges 29. The flights 28are pivotal at their heels, asat 30, to the conveyor chain 27, and

are adapted to be'folded back along the con veyor chain during theirreturn'passage so that the flanges 29 extend over and under the chain27. The flanges 29 are provided with rollers 31 for a purpose to bedescribed;

The forward face of the, channel 4 is provided with a hardened wearplate 32 and the conveyer chain 27 and flights 28 are adapted to ridealong this plate when conveying material, so that the rollers 31 willcontact with the plate and prevent the flights from moving about theirpivotal connections 30. Therefore, the flights will be held in extendedposition to convey the mined material.

The main or rear channel member 3 is bent rearwardly at thehead end ofthe frame, as at 33,.to provide clearance for the extended conveyerflights 28 as they travel around the head sprocket 25. As the flightspass around the sprocket they will engage the back of the channel 3 andbe moved about their pivotal connections so as to fold back along 6 thechain 27. The space between the channels 3 and 4 being considerably lessthan the length'of the conveyer flights 28, the flights will be held intheir folded position as they return to the butt end of the machine.

A wear-and guide plate 34 is secured between the flanges -of the channel4 and the lbutt end of the plate 32. The plate 35 is slotted to permitthe chain 27- to engage the teeth of the sprocket 19 and also serve as aguide-against which the rollers 31 of the flights 28 will engage andthus force the flights outwardly into extended or material engagingposition. The rear or mam channel member 3 is also bent rearwardly atthe butt end of theframe, asat 37,- to provide clearance for the flightsas they are forced into extendedposition.

The cover plate8 is extended over the forward edge of the channel '4, asat 37?, and

' serves'to maintain'the conveyer chain 27 in position.

A plurality of worm and worm-wheel casings 38 are secured at spacedintervals along the rear faceof the main channel member 3 shaft 26. 1

- The driving gearing and shafts fordr'iving the conveyer chain 27 areso arranged. and

openings adapted to receive a filler bar 43 and the squared forward endof a power shaft 44 adapted to be connected to the drive mechanism ofthe combined roof support and advancing rigs to be described.

The main frame A has its head end widened out and extended forwardly toprovide a support for the driving motor B and its associated gearing,shafting, etc., necessary to drive the machine.

The motor B is mounted on the extreme forward portion of the main frameand has its armature shaft coupled directly to a shaft 48 which has abevel gear 49 on its rear end in mesh with a bevel gear 50 on asubstantially vertical stub shaft 51. The shaft 51 also carries asprocket 52 which is operatively connected by'a chain 53 with a sprocket53 on the shaft 16 on which the cutter chain head orv power sprocket 15is mounted. From the foregoing it will be readily understood that thecutter chain is driven by the motor B through the above mechanism, andit is to be noted that the above drive connections are so arranged thatthe cutter chain willbe 'driven in clockwise direction.

The shaft 48 is connected through suitable reducing gearing 55 to ashaft 56 which carries a bevel gear 57 intermediate its ends and ac1utch 58for operatively connecting the gear 57 with the shaft. The gear57 is in mesh ,with a bevel gear 58 on a spurv shaft 58 which isconnected through gears 58 to the power shaft 41 which extendslengthwise along the rear side of the machine.

The shaft 56 extends beyond the gear 57 to the rear of the main frameand has a gear 59 thereon adapted to be connected to or disconnectedfrom the shaft by means of a clutch 60. The gear 59 is in mesh with agear 61 on a stub shaft 62 which also is provided with a sprocket 63.The sprocket 63 is connected by a chain 64 with a sprocket 65 on a Istub shaft 66, which also carriesa sprocket 67 which isconnected to asprocket 68 on a head shaft 69 by'a chain6 9 The shaft 69 carries abevel gear 70 which meshes with. a

bevel gear 71 on the conveyer head sprocket connected that the conveyerchain will be driven in a counter-clockwise direction, that is, in theopposite direction to the direction of travel of the cutter chain 17, sothat the return strand of the cutter chain moves parallel wlth and 1nthe same direction as the unease? working or conveying strand of theconveyingchain, and thus the cutting bits of the cutter chain and-'theflights of the conveyer will co-operate-to move-the mined materi-allengthwise ofthe machine.

The mining machine shown and described is made the subject: of my copendingapplication, Serial No. 131,810,:filed'kugust 13. 192%. It willbeunderstood that while the :combined roof supporting advancing rigs, towhich this application is primarily directed, are particularly adaptedfor "use with amining machine such-wasishownfiand described, their useis not li miited to such machines, but they maybe used with any othermining machine where it is desired to. have combined: roof supports andadvancing rigs. The combined roof support and advancing rig of thisinvention comprises a base -72 which is built up of structural shapesand plates and is prov-ided along its bottoinface with a centrallyarranged recess 73 and side flanges 74-. A plurality of anti-frictionrollers 75 are mountediintherecess '1' 3 and project below'the'lower orbottom'face of t ie base 7 2, and have their axles 7-6 ournaled insuitable bearing openings in the flanges 74. The forward end of the base7 2 is shaped as at 77 to fit against the rear face of the beam 3 of themining machine.

The base 72 isprovide'd at its opposite ends with bearings 78 and 79,respectively, for transverse tractor shafts 80 and 81 having sprockets82 against each end, over which are-trained tractor chains83 adaptedtoenthefloor of the mine-when in operation to feed the lowerportion ofthe device or rig forwardly.

The bearings {78 and 79 are-provided withcushioned mountings so :astozpermlt a limited vertical movement of the shafts 8.0 ifllld 81, re-

I spectively. The rear bearing 78 is cushioned by ai-ubber cushionmember Simounted in the base 72- above said bearingiandi adapted to becompressed thereby. The forward bearpermit vertical movement thereof.

The base 7 2 is provided witha centrally arranged acl:supportingplate86ihaving a Ty ilurality of upwardly projecting springguides 8'7 thereon. A. plurality of heavycoil springs 88 are mounted onsaid-jack supporting plate, and a jaclnbase 89iis mounted on the springs88 and adjustably heldzin position by. tie bolts 90-passing throii-gh-asuitable.apertures in the jack base and; screw thread'ed'into the.plate 86.

A jack 91'of any ordinary; and well known construction, but preferablyof the hydraulic c. -type,is mounted on the kj'ack-base89. The

ing 79 is cushioned by springs 85 so asto sprocket'123 on the tractorshaft102.

The beam or ro o'f'memberi :95 isl'built .up of structural shapeslandp'lates and is provided along its upper face with a'central'lyarranged rollerrecess- 96 and side flanges '97. A' pluspective'ly, inwhich are j'ou'rnaled transverse "tractor shafts 102 andi1031havingsprockets 104, over which are trained tractor chains 105 adapt-ed toengage the-roof ofthezmine when in operationztorfeed the upper portioirgc of: the rig forwardly.

The bearings 100 and 101. arexcushionedzfor vertical movement by meansofspring. mount lugs-106 'and'107,.respectively.

A drive shaft 1G8ismounted-on the irsars85 end of the base member 7 2directlyabove the sprocket shaft 80 and is supportedat one end on' theshaft 80: by a connecting beariirgi memher .109, andat its other end=bythe drive gearing ho-usingll t). il-t-willwthusibe seeuseo that anyvertical movement of :the sprocket shaft 80 will be communicated directtothe drive shaft 108 and, therefore tlreseishafts will remainconstantly spaced, irrespective of the VGT'lHCHl'IHOVEHIGDt of theshaft80 denote-W its cushioned bearing.

Theshafts 108 and "80 are provided with worm Wheels 111 and 112,respectivelymvithin the housingllO, which mesh.withwth-eaopposite'si'des of :a worm 113:0ii a longitudmally extendingshaft 114'journaled lllithG. housing 110. The shaft llkisiprovidedwith'awo-rm wheel-115m mesh with a worm 116ml avertical shaft 117j'ournaledin.thehousing110,

and provided with'ia beveljgear 118 on itsiilaoa lower end, which is inmesh with a-bevel gear 118 on the rear-endof'a horizontahpowershaft-119, which extends through the 'f'orwa rd end of the housing andis connected to the power shaft 44: by a universalcoupling' bllo member120. a

The shaft 108'is provided with a sprocket 121 at its end oppositetheworm wheel 111,

which is connected by a chain 122 to a From the above description of thedrive mechanism it will be readily seen-,tha-tasthe shaft 41 is operatedby the 1notorofwthe'1na chine, each of the several roof supporting andadvancing rigs will be steadily' and constant- 1y driven so .astoslowlyadvance and push the mining machine :into the material beingmined. m

This steady'advance of the iroof supporting rigs at a rate equal to theadvance-ofthe mining machine eliminates" the dangerof a roof fallbetween the: machine and 1 theeroof supports, and also eliminates'thelabor and delays necessary to move up other forms of stationarysupports. 1 31 to the specific construction shown, since variousmodifications may be made without departing fromthe scope of myinvention as defined in' the appended claims.

' 1; The combination with a mining machine, of means separate from andlocated at the rear of said machine for supporting the roof of the mineand for advancing said machine into the material being 'mined, saidmeans including a power jack member and power advancing means forsimultaneously advancing the machine and jack in a horizontal direction.

2. The combination with a mining machine, of means separate from andlocated at the rear of said machine for supporting the roof of the mineand for advancing said machine into the material being mined, saidmeans'comprising a base having its forward end in engagement with saidmachine, a jack on said base, a roof support carried by said jack,tractor members on said base and roof support, and means for drivingsaid tractor members; V

3. The combination with a mining machine, of means separate from andlocated at the rear of said machine for supporting the roof of the mineand for advancing said machine into the. material being mined, saidmember'having a plurality of rollers jourmeans comprising a base memberhaving a plurality of anti-friction rollers along its bot tom face, andhaving its forward end in engagement with said machine, a jack on saidbase, a roof support carried by said jack, sald roof support having aplurality of anti-friction rollers along its upper face, tractormemberson said base and roof support, and means for driving saidtractormembers.

4. The combination with a combined longwall mining and loading machine,of a combined roof support and advancing rig separate from said machinecomprising an elongated base member having its forward end in engagementwith the rear side wall of said machine, a ack member mounted on saidbase member, an elongated roof support carried by said jack, tractormembers on said base and said roof support, and means for drivingsaidtractors v V p 5. A combined roof support and mining machineadvancing rig comprlsing abase naled along itsbottom face, tractorchains mounted along each side of said base and adapted to engage thefloor of the mine, a

plurality of coil springs mounted" on said base, a hydraulic jackmounted on said coil springs so as to permit a limited vertical movementof said jack, a roof support mounted onsaid jack, said roof supporthaving a plurality of rollers journaled along its upper face, andtractor chains along each side of said roof support adapted to engagethe roof of the mine, the tractor .chains onsaid base and said roofsupport being adapted to be driven simultaneously to advance saiddevice.

6. A combined roof support and mining machine advancing rig comprising abase member having a plurality of rollers journaled along its bottomface, tractor chains mounted along eachside of said base and adapted toengage the floor of the mine, a jack mounted on said base, a roofsupport mounted on said jack, said roof support having a plurality ofrollers ournaled along its upper face and tractor chains along each sideof said roof support adapted to engage the roof of the mine, the tractorchains on said base and said roof support being adapted to be drivensimultaneously toadvance said device.

7. The combination with a combined longwall mining and loading machinecomprising a substantially rectangular frame, said machine being adaptedto be moved bodilyinto the coal being mined, of a plurality of com binedroof supports and advancing rigs located to the rear of said machine,said roof supports and advancing rigs each comprising a base memberadapted to engage the rear face of the machine. frame and having aplurality 'of rollers journaled along its bottom face,

the mine, a drive shaft journaled along the rear of said machine frame,and means operativelyrconnecting each of said combined roof supports andadvancing rigs with said drive shaft. to drive said tractor chains,whereby said combined roof supports and advancing. rigs and miningmachine will be simultaneously moved .forward into the coal being mined.

'8. The combination with a mining machine of the longwall type, of aplurality of combined roof supports and advancing rigs lo cated to therear of said machine, said roof supports and advancing rlgs eachcomprising a base member adapted to engage the rear face of the machine,a plurality of rollers j ournaled along the bottom face of saidbase,tractor chains mounted along each side of said base and adaptedto engagethe floor of the mine, a jack mounted on said base, a roof supportmounted on said jack, said roof support having a plurality of rollersjour-- naled along its upper face, tractor chains arranged along eachside of said roof support, power driving means carried by said machine,and means for operatively connecting said tractor chains with said powerdriv ing means, whereby said combined roof supports and advancing rigsand said mining machine will be simultaneously moved forward into thecoal being mined.

9. A roof supporting machine for supporting the roof of a minecomprising a base member having a plurality of anti-friction rollersalong its bottom face, a jack on said base, a roof support carried bysaid jack, said roof support having a plurality of antifriction rollersalong its upper face, tractor members on said base and roof supports,and means for driving said tractor members.

10. A roof supporting mechanism for supporting the roof of a minecomprising a base member having a plurality of anti-friction rollersalong its bottom face, tractor chains mounted along each side of saidbase and adapted to engage the floor of the mine, resilient meansmounted ,on said base, a jack mounted on said resilient means so as topermit a limited vertical movement of said jack, a roof support mountedon said jack, said roof support having a plurality of rollers journaledalong its upper face, and tractor chains along each side of said roofsupport adapted to engage the roof of the mine, the tractor chains onsaid base and said roof support being adapted to be drivensimultaneously to advance said device.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand.

EDWARD OTOOLE.

